Stop Moving Your Feet

 There are four distinct hitting forms in PB.

We have the serve, the return, stuff at the net, and then the shots in midcourt.

The serve can be as much foot movement as works for you.  But from zero to a lot, it's not critical to serving well.  

The return might require some foot movement, but usually the ball is hit from close to the setup position.  There are a couple of exceptions, one being a wide serve and the other the short serve.  Yes, you want to some running before and certainly after a service return (get to the net...).

Dink rallies require a lot of foot movement and you want to be very active and moving side to side as the ball shifts position.  This is the most active case for movement.

Let's talk net play.  If the opponents are not at the net, but you are, there is little foot movement required as long as you setup properly for the expected return.  Setting up properly means, middle coverage for sure, and if the ball is close to a sideline, then both net players should shift a bit towards that sideline.

We are down to one case and I wanted to talk about this, as it's common and not obvious.  This is the scenario where you are not at the net, and the opponents are.  This could be a third/fifth/etc., shot situation, or one where you get pushed off the kitchenline or where you are going to defend a popup or bad lob.

There are a couple of things that true of this case.  The ball is likely to be hit close to your feet -- if it's above your waist, it's probably going out.  

Secondly, this shot is not likely to be hit with a sharp angle, as it's unlikely to be hit softly -- wide hard shots go out.  Most of the action is going to be middle court, but usually with a touch of angle.  And the angle comes into it as the defenders are blocking a large portion of court and usually one defender is deeper than the other.  The ball will usually go to the deeper player.

The new thought I want to share is that the pros usually will not have to move their feet to return these shots.  They setup in the middle of the "open" area where they expect the shot, they use a wide stance for balance and to lower their bodies, and they will also lower their paddles.  

Almost all the shots will be reachable with some stretching to the side. 

The difficult shots are the ones that come straight at you.  To handle these you want to be relaxed and you need the paddle extended in front of you.  The ball is usually coming at a good pace and there is not need to try and hit it back hard.  Think blocking and just solid paddle ball contact.  You are not trying to win the point, but to eventually, hit a shot that will be low enough or soft enough to allow you to return to the kitchenline.

What you really don't want to be doing, is standing up tall, have a raised paddle, have panic in your eyes.  Get low, be ready, and don't try for miracles.

One more scenario.  You and partner are at the net and you are in the middle of a dinking rally.  Your partner hits a bad lob and the next shot will be hit hard and at your feet.  You have time to take a step back, split step and get your paddle down.  Don't try to retreat much more than that as it's better to be ready and low than moving to get to a better position.

If you watch pros, particularly the ladies' doubles, you will see a lot of these defensive shots.  Some are from the baseline and many from the transition area.  

You are not going to get a lot of these back, but setting up properly and being ready gives you a fighting chance.